Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-05

pass his house about O'Clock on the morning OF
live on the road Mr. Todds friends claim he passed
swore that they did not see him on that road that
day, nor do they believe anybody could have
passed without being seen by them.
DR. SUNDERLAND, FOR THE DEFENSE, SAID
that it was only necessary to state that they con-
ndently expected to contradict all the testimony
OF the prosecuting witness, Robt Turner; that the
defense would show that Mr. Todd pursued the
direct road from DR.. Readings to his home in
Manassas. and was seen at different points along
the route. They would also show that Turner had
told conflicting stories and had loaded down his
soul with perjury; that Bodine, suspended men,
ber Of the church, seized upon the scandal, and
a1ded 0y his uncle, Mr.. HOrnbaker, another enemy
OF Mr.. Todd, had endeavored to blast the charac-
ter and ruin the usefulness OF Mr.. Todd.
Mr.. TODD TEsTIF1Es IN HIS OWN BEHALF.
The first witness for the defense was MI. Todd
himself, who was sworn. In response to the ques-
tion Of the oath he answered with emphasis, 81
do"
i. He testified that he was born In Bedford County,
Pa; that his father was minister; he graduated
at EastOn College, and had been pastor OF the Ma
nassas and Nokesyille church for ten years; he
breaches two Sundays month at NOkeSville; on
Sunday, May 22, he preached at NOkesville church
and spent the night at Mr.. Shows. About am.
ing there about 10; asked Slack If he was ready
to go to Dr.. Readings, as Slack had promised TO go
there with him; was at Slack's till pm Monday,
and then went alone to DR.. Readings, Slack not
being able to accompany him; staid at Readings
Monday night; Tuesday morning ate breakfast at
Readings at 8 o'clock; after breakfast witness
In newspapers to which his attention was called
by DR.. Reading. 1t took him half an hour to read
the articles; then the witness said he must go as
he wanted to see Mr. Slack before the latter should
start for Manassas. Some time was consumed in
getting his horse ready SO that 1t was about a
quarter to O'Clock when witness left Readings.
Witness said he took the direct road (Which he
traced on the map) to Slack'S; arrived there few
minutes before 10; dismOunted and remained at
direct road to the church and stopped there to
about some repairs; remained there perhaps q
quarter OF an hour; resumed the direct road
to Manassas; met Snow, MOleney and ErmentrOut
about IL O'Clock; witness watch was broken and
he could only tell the time by the distance he rode
t He reached home about T. o'clock did not see any
pass Mrs Shaeffer's house that morning. (Mrs.
Shaeffer testified that bye did). Witness did not
not meet woodward; did not see Turner (tIe COL
ored witness). MIR. Todd, in response to Ques-
DENIED sP BcIF1cALLY AND IN DETAIL
the testimony OF Turner.
Here DR.. Sunderland unwrapped and exposed to
view decayed stick about feet long and asked
Mr.. Todd If he had ever seen it before. Witness
had seen II In DR.. Sunderfands study last week |;
never saw 1t before that. Witness described his
satche saying he usually carried his sermons, his
comb and brush, Testament, and sometimes a
shirt; these articles fill the bag. CThe bag was
here produced It resembled small-sized mall
sack, being OF leather,
witness thought a small thin lap-robe might be
carried In the bag, but not with the other con-
never tried to put one in it. On that trip witness
wore W1de-brtmmed hat, lined with green Uhe
hat produced1, as the sun was hot and he wanted
to protect his face. Witness said he was wearing
the same clothes he had on on the oath of May.
ON CRoss-RXAMINATION
witness said the clock struck Swh1le he was seated
at breakfast at Readings When he reached
Slack's Mrs. Slack said her husband had been gone
two hours. In cold weather witness was In the
habit OF carrying horse blanket rolled up and
strapped to his saddle. On May oath witness had
no roll OF any kind; had nothing but his travelling
bag. On Monday, while waiting for Slack to get
ready to accompany him to Readings, Mr.. Todd
took walk into the woods; though not a botanist,
he Is student OF nature. He had been told that
an ebony-stemmed fern grew there. On his walk
he saw two ladies In buggy. and went up to them.
He chatued with them about twenty minutes, and
they gave him two books to read. The ladies
were not members OF his church, but were friends
DR.. Childs. "Have you any objection to telling
who they were?"
The moderator deemed the question unneces-
sary, and it was withdrawn.
In response to other questions Mr.. Todd said the
two ladies whom he saw In the buggy on Monday
remained In the buggy during his presence; nei-
ther got out OF the buggy. Neither OF them was
dressed like the woman described by Turner as
having been seen by him in the woods on Tues
day.
TESTIMONY OF PETER CURRY.
Mr.. Peter Curry was next sworn. He resides at
Nokesville, near by the Presbyterian church. The
church is on his farm. Witness is Roman Cath
olic. He employed James Worder, Robert Turner
Douglass Brent, ana Elijah Slack to work in his
corn field on Monday; on Tuesday, next day all
Of them returned to work except Slack. The work
OF planting was finished about 8 o'clock Tuesday
morning. Witness had lived there seven years and
known Turner all that time. Witness had never
know. known Turner @ to ten Ialsehood: Witness met
scene in the woods. Turner voluntarily told Wit
ness that he had seen Mr.. Todd in the woods with
q woman the day before; said he did not know the
woman. Turner offered to show witness the SPOT
where he claimed to have seen Mr.. Todd, but wit
ness did IL not go. There are about twenty-three
witness did not see Mr.. Todd pass the corn-field
that (Tuesday) morning; did not hear any OF the
other men say they saw him pass. Witness was
in the field until O'Clock that morning and would
probably have seen Mr.. Todd had he passed.
When witness met Turner on the day after the
Mr.. Todd spoke to him cIurner) in the woods. but
he had refused to speak to him on other occasions
On Tuesday morning witness saw woodward on
horseback. woodward called on witness for q fox
hound. woodward was not with witness more
than ten minutes; that was about half past . a.
a buggy driving toward Nokesville; did not Know
her.
On cross examination Mr.. Curry was positive it
was not later than $50 q. m. when he met Wood.
yard. Turner's general character for truth and
veracity was fairly good Witness never heard
anybody accuse him OF telling lie. Witness
i. NEVER CAUGHT TURNER IN LIE.
DR.. Ch1lds, in making inquiries as to whether or
not any OF the men working In Curry's field saw
Mr.. Todd pass or not, the moderator objected to
the question, 'Did the other men say they did not
see him paSS?" The moderator said 1t was not
proper question: and he would not permit it.
DR.. ChildS retOrted that he would not be nut
down when he knew he was right. After some
discussion the question was asked and witness
replied that the other men did not say they saw
Mr.. Todd pass, and witness felt sure they would
have mentioned it had they seen him. Turner
LETT the field at O'Clock that morning.
MRS. REDDING'S TESTIMONY
Mrs. Redding, wife OF Dr.. Redding, living about
six miles from N0kesville testified that Mr.. Todd
stayed at her house on the night OF the 23d of May
and breakfasted late with them the next morning.
Breakfast was unusually late on account OF house
hold duties and Mr.. Todd left the house on horse
back that morning at about 9 OclOch. Paid no
particular attention to his saddle bags Saw no
lap robes or table cloths or anything similar; the
saddle bags did not appear to contain any such
article.
On cross examination witness said she saw Mr.
Holmes on the Sunday Following, the oath OF May,
at her house, and left In company with Mr.. Fultz.
Denied that she had ever told these men that MI.
TODD had LETT her house earlier than O'Clock on
the 23d. witness Is not a member OF Mr.. TOdd'S
church, Dut Is now Baptist Has no general hour
OF breakfast.
JOHN HKRND0N AZ A wu7gHsa
John Herndon lives In p. W. co, In sight OF DR..
Redding's house. He testified that he saw nobody
leaving DR.. Redding's place on the morning OF
TUESDAY, the ESD. he has rocked Robert Turner
IN his cradle and hence knew him well, and de-